Andersen Aluminum Ultimate and RAM OEM puck

[eb145]

Just passing along some information to help others out that might be in the same situation I am now in.

I have a 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab with the RAM OEM 5th wheel prep.

I just purchased the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th wheel hitch (goose neck version) and I ordered the Andersen safety chains to use with it. I will be using the safety chains to minimize the chance of the trailer falling off the rear of the truck in case of goose ball failure, as well as to help keep the trailer out of the back seat of the truck cab in case of a collision.

I purchased the Curt brand goose neck ball and safety chain anchor kit that is compatible with the RAM OEM 5th wheel prep.

And when I went to do a test assembly last night I found a little surprise / incompatibility:

It turns out the Curt safety chain anchors can't be used in my truck with the Andersen hitch. The reason is the Curt safety chain anchors are manufactured with an angle to the anchor loops and they use a pin that needs to be clipped on that interfere with the base of the Andersen pyramid. Here is a picture of the Curt product:


The angle on the anchor loops and the way the pin is used to secure the anchor loop to the truck just doesn't work in my setup.

So,I looked closely at pictures of the Reese brand gooseneck ball and safety chain anchor and I see it will work with my setup so I ordered it. You can see the Reese brand anchor chain is a different shape and has a different attachment mechanism that will not interfere with the Andersen pyramid base.


So in summary, the Curt brand safety chain anchors fit my 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab but they can't be used with the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th wheel hitch due to the shape of the Curt brand anchors.

Hopefully this information will save someone the aggravation of discovering this for themselves the hard way.

Ed

[Me_Again]

45Ricochet wrote:
LOL
We need a "Hitch up and go test time" now. I know where my money would be :W
Got to love the "no chain" comment. I also bet you don't use seat belts and drive 15 over the limit :B packing heat at the same time :W
Just me but you can't beat the ease of a true fifth wheel hitch. Maybe someday the manufactures of RV's will actually build a RV frame on a goose neck platform. Yeah dream on....

I think they already do that with the V Cross 5th wheels, as the frame comes together in the front in a V. If any manufacturer would approve a gooseneck adapter, they most likely would be the one. Chris

[45Ricochet]

LOL
We need a "Hitch up and go test time" now. I know where my money would be :W
Got to love the "no chain" comment. I also bet you don't use seat belts and drive 15 over the limit :B packing heat at the same time :W
Just me but you can't beat the ease of a true fifth wheel hitch. Maybe someday the manufactures of RV's will actually build a RV frame on a goose neck platform. Yeah dream on....

[Me_Again]

The factory 5th wheel and goose neck prep for $400 is a bargain, and believe includes the in bed 7 pin light/brake connection.

I am waiting for a report on what happens to these Andersen hitches in a wreck. Might me a reason to have a mega cab.

Chris

[Cummins12V98]

Sport45 wrote:
Ok, I get it.

Why don't we just go a step further and suggest not ordering the factory gooseneck kit? A B&W turnover ball would allow the B&W Companion 5th wheel or the Andersen Ultimate and neither would require pucks of any kind.

Prep kit is much less expensive. Also allows for 25K towing and 6,500# pin with the B&W RVK3600.

[ranchertx]

NC Hauler is spot on as usual!

For anyone worried about a MFGr denying a warrantly claim because ofthe Anderson hitch, they give a $5,000,000 guarantee on their product, in writing.

With no failures anywhere to be found, and that kind of guarantee behind their product, I feel safe using their product.

[eb145]

OP here.

The Reese goose ball and safety chain anchor kit should arrive tomorrow so I will test it and report back then.

I have been following the other threads discussing this hitch and I did some other reading about whether it is necessary to use safety chains with it. I decided I am going to use safety chains after doing some reading about gooseneck hitch accidents without safety chains (I know this is not a gooseneck hitch - but it does rely on the gooseneck ball which is a potential single point of failure).

A couple comments about not using safety chains on some gooseneck discussion forums convinced me to use chains with this hitch - here are the comments that affected my decision: one comment was to make sure you have a nice suit to wear to the funeral (ouch!) for the people in the car hit by your runaway trailer, and then someone told a sad story. And the other comment was about how chains will help keep the front of the trailer out of the rear seat of your truck cab in a catastrophic collision, followed by another story.

Again, these stories were about goosneck hitches (not the Andersen Ultimate Hitch). But with both systems relying on the gooseball, I think they have some relevance.

On a lighter note (pun intended), I had to take the hitch out of my truck bed yesterday and by golly, it really took less than 5 minutes, only needed a 15/16" wrench (that I keep in the truck now with my torque wrench and 15/16" socket) and one trip into the bed of the truck.

Let's keep sharing information about real world use of this hitch. Both good and bad.

And for those that don't trust this new technology, I appreciate your thoughtful comments and concerns about this hitch. Other than sometimes becoming repetitive I believe it is a healthy discussion / debate that needs to occur.

Ed

[cummins2014]

rhagfo wrote:

rskeans wrote:
He's not pulling it with a goose neck. He's just using the goose neck ball in the truck bed. The Andersen attaches to the bed goose neck ball. The advantage is that he has full use of the truck bed when removing the 32 lb hitch. Check out Andersen ultimate 5th wheel hitch to understand what's happening.

Call it what you want, it is still a ball hitch, and requires safety chains in most states. It is not a 5th wheel in the true terms of pin and plate.

What would you like to call it 🙂 Its far from a gooseneck setup

[cummins2014]

Me Again wrote:
Or lifting the trailer the extra distance to clear the ball while hitching or unhitching. Chris

Do you realize how trivial that is :R If that is all you can find fault with the Andersen I suggest you give it .

[cummins2014]

Housted wrote:
People people people this has been debated to the point of ridiculousness. :S Those of us that HAVE the Andersen seem to like it.
There are many reasons for this affection. Those of you who probably have never seen one up close, surely have not towed with one, are full of OPINIONS. Can we not at this point agree to disagree. BTW I use the factory Gooseneck ball setup and pucks for the chains if required where I am. BTW I have towed with the Andersen across the country and back without the chains in place. Never been asked. I carry them just in case!!

Rant over....:o

Housted

I don't consider that a rant. there is a couple gentlemen in particular that seem to bash a product they have no knowledge of. It doesn't matter to them how many of you come on here ,and dispute their opinions .Yes it is to the point of ridiculous , and it should be stopped. They have been called out more then once for stuff like this .

[Housted]

People people people this has been debated to the point of ridiculousness. :S Those of us that HAVE the Andersen seem to like it.
There are many reasons for this affection. Those of you who probably have never seen one up close, surely have not towed with one, are full of OPINIONS. Can we not at this point agree to disagree. BTW I use the factory Gooseneck ball setup and pucks for the chains if required where I am. BTW I have towed with the Andersen across the country and back without the chains in place. Never been asked. I carry them just in case!!

Rant over....:o

Housted

[rskeans]

rhagfo wrote:

rskeans wrote:
He's not pulling it with a goose neck. He's just using the goose neck ball in the truck bed. The Andersen attaches to the bed goose neck ball. The advantage is that he has full use of the truck bed when removing the 32 lb hitch. Check out Andersen ultimate 5th wheel hitch to understand what's happening.

Call it what you want, it is still a ball hitch, and requires safety chains in most states. It is not a 5et wheel in the true terms of pin and ball.

True. Safety Chains are certainly not a big deal. When I plug in to the 7-pin, and connect my 'break-away' switch, I also spend about 2 seconds each slapping the safety chains on the Eye-Bolts. I'm not sure I understand the revelance of your last sentence.

[rhagfo]

rskeans wrote:
He's not pulling it with a goose neck. He's just using the goose neck ball in the truck bed. The Andersen attaches to the bed goose neck ball. The advantage is that he has full use of the truck bed when removing the 32 lb hitch. Check out Andersen ultimate 5th wheel hitch to understand what's happening.

Call it what you want, it is still a ball hitch, and requires safety chains in most states. It is not a 5th wheel in the true terms of pin and plate.

[NC_Hauler]

Sport45 wrote:
Ok, I get it.

Why don't we just go a step further and suggest not ordering the factory gooseneck kit? A B&W turnover ball would allow the B&W Companion 5th wheel or the Andersen Ultimate and neither would require pucks of any kind.

You would still need the center hole,(Puck), which the factory 5er/GN prep package comes with..so you would receive the truck, ready to go...just drop in the Reese ball in the center hole...it locks into place and works with the companion and the Andersen....and if you get the 5er/GN prep package, you could later on, if you so desired, go with a different hitch and would ALREADY be set up to do so....done deal...:)

As RancherTX has shown...he starter out with the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch in 2013 , towing, if I'm not mistaken, and Jim can correct me if I'm wrong, a 22,000# GVW 5er...he now owns a newer Ram dually and is still using the Andersen 5er hitch on a newer high GVW 5er and has been doing it now for over 2yrs.....Experience speaks volumes....:)

[Sport45]

Ok, I get it.

Why don't we just go a step further and suggest not ordering the factory gooseneck kit? A B&W turnover ball would allow the B&W Companion 5th wheel or the Andersen Ultimate and neither would require pucks of any kind.

[ramgunner]

Sport45 wrote:
And it's the only one the OP currently owns. (At least the only one mentioned.)

He was just sharing info about what pucks can be used to secure safety chains with the Andersen hitch. I say job well done!

My comments were intended more for the benefit of any of the newbies reading the thread. Education - it's a good thing.

bigdave720 wrote:
Wow! Now I get it. That's pretty cool. Thanks for schooling this newbie!